The traditional fishermen of Visakhapatnam are hardened seamen as they have experienced violent moods of the sea over the years.
But Tuesday’s phenomenon was something that even the older generation among them had not seen for years.
“It was a clear day with sunshine. But the sky suddenly turned dark and it started pouring heavily. This apart, lightning struck from all sides. The colour of the sea resembled the sky, and it turned rough in no time. Huge tides added to the misery,” recounted Tedu Sreenu, a fisherman from Peda Jalaripeta, who survived the onslaught.
All were not lucky as Sreenu. The catamaran in which Chintapallai Pola Rao (35) sailed was apparently struck by a streak of lighting, and he did not survive. His body was located by the search and rescue team later.
Two others, Tedu Parasayya (35) and Tedu Pentayya (45), are missing, and efforts are on to locate and rescue them.
Over 500 fishermen from various parts of Visakhapatnam ventured into the sea at around 4 a.m. on Tuesday in about 100 catamarans and country boats in anticipation of a bumper catch.
But their hopes dashed as weather played spoilsport at around 9.40 a.m.
Parasayya and Pentayya were sailing with three others – Ramolu Appa Rao; Ramolu Ramu; and Tedu Tataji.
“A huge tide overturned our boat. We somehow managed to reach our boat, get into it and sail back. But Parasayya and Pentayya had gone missing,” recounted Tataji.
Suffer burns
Pola Rao was also sailing with four others. As a thunderbolt struck near the boat, all of them fell into the sea. While others could get back into the boat, Pola Rao could not as he bore the brunt. His body was fished out later. The others too suffered burns.
Joint Collector G. Srijana and a few other officials rushed to Peda Jalaripeta and consoled the families of the missing persons and the next of kin of the deceased. She directed the police, the Marine Police, and the Coast Guard to intensify the search to trace the missing persons.
